Poor kicking costs Walcountians Vase tie

Junior Vase

Vigo 19 Old Walcountians 18

OLD Walcountians' run in the RFU Junior Vase came to a disappointing end last Saturday as they narrowly went down to Kent League One opponents Vigo.

They were defeated despite scoring three tries to one on their hosts, poor kicking costing them the tie

The Old Boys allowed their opponents to seize the initiative and direct the game.

OWs started without prop Ben Anderson and scrum-half Wally Fourie and Callum Stone, who would normally have filled the scrum-half vacancy.

Flanker Jack South was moved to fill that berth. Another recall was for veteran Steve O'Hara at prop.

Walcountians were abysmal in the first half and completely failed to get any sort of rhythm.

The midfield backs, normally so fluent, repeatedly mistimed passes and fumbled possession, and Walcountians' speedy wingers Chris Walsh and Ryan McGibbon never saw the ball during the first half.

The forwards were also off the pace and allowed Vigo to get a greater share of the ball in both the set scrums and the loose.

OWs were behind after just five minutes. Vigo's backs moved up quickly on a flat threequarter line for winger Ollie Jarman to intercept an attempted pass and run in almost unopposed for a converted try.

Walcountians seldom looked like getting back on level terms during the first half and, as the end of normal time approached, Vigo extended their lead when inside-centre Dave Winston banged over a penalty.

At half-time, Walcountians made tactical changes. Burly loose forward Gavin Welsh was brought on at fly-half, with Chris Mockford moving out to the centre, while Tim Chauncey moved to scrum-half with Jack South going into the pack.

The revised formation immediately reaped dividends with Welsh's ability to offload in the tackle and South's destructive foraging in his best position.

Five minutes in, South won a critical lineout to set the threequarters up for a move finished by centre Sam Naylor who smashed his way through to touch down.

Walcountians levelled in the 14th minute when Welsh made a break which opened up the defence and found full-back Ollie Beales in support to put winger Ryan McGibbon clear to race home.

The Old Boys' inability to convert either try gave Vigo a lifeline as they rallied. The ever-reliable Winston kicked a brace of penalties within an eight-minute period to re-establish Vigo's lead.

Walcountians launched a last-ditch effort to save the game. Welsh again opened up the Vigo defence at first receiver and found Mockford in support to put Beales away to round the covering defenders for the Old Boys' third try.

When Mockford fired over a penalty a minute into stoppage time, it seemed that the Old Boys had won the match.

However, their inability to hold their discipline in the dying minutes proved costly. They conceded a penalty which Winton gratefully converted to win the match.

On Saturday, Walcountians return to Surrey League One action against old rivals Bec Old Boys, with whom they have risen from Surrey Three. Kick-off at Clock House is at 2.30pm.